Spear pistol



Jan. 29, 1957 J. G. THOMSEN SPEAR PISTOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1955 John 6. Thomsen IN V EN TOR.

m mm Pm 0% Q\\ QM KN i? 9v w m A Law h @x y mm .1 M ..Q% m m%kv H 099909 A o vm mm M N% i/ 3 2 O O O i. !i I mm mm Q Q am mm vm N u J. G. THOMSEN SPEAR PISTOL Jan. 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1955 John 6. Thomsen I IN VEN TOR.

BY M

SPEAR PISTOL John G. Thomsen, Fulton, Ill.

Application March 24, 1955, Serial No. 496,384 S CIaims. (Cl. 124-47 This invention relates to the class of guns and more particularly to a novel pistol adapted to be used in propelling spears and similar projectiles towards a target.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a mechanically operated pistol adapted to impart motion to a spear or like projectile through the use of energy previously stored in a coil spring.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a spear pistol employing novel means for guidingly receiving a spear or like projectile and for releasing the energy in a coil spring so as to impart motion to the projectile through the use of a novel trigger assembly.

Incorporated in this invention is a breech plug which is readily positioned within a perforated barrel, the breech plug having a trigger pivotally attached thereto which trigger has an opening therethrough receiving a receptacle for the projectile. Energy is stored in a spring biasing the breech plug and the receptacle. There is provided a muzzle plug which serves the double function as a stop for the receptacle and also as a guide for the projectile.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a spear pistol that is simple in construction, highly efiicient in operation, capable of being readily utilized even below the surface of a body of water, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture therebypermitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the other ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this spear pistol, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the spear pistol comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view of the spear pistol illustrating the invention in a cocked position and showing the trigger in a fired position in phantom lines;

Figure 3 is a detailed view illustrating the manner in which a line attached to a projectile may unwind therefrom;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view of portions of the invention shown with the coil spring in an expanded position before loading;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 5-5 in Figure l and being shown in an enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the plane of line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the loading tool forming the base plate of the pistol grip.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the spear pistol comprising the present invention. Thisspear pistol includes a barrel 12 I United States Patent 0 j" 2,779,323 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 ice provided with a series of rows of apertures 14 thereby perforating the barrel to permit equalization of pressures in the barrel 12 whether the pistol is fired in a gas or liquid medium.

By means of suitable screws 16 and 18 a piston grip assembly 20 formed of Bakelite or other suitable plastic or lightweight metal as may be desired is attached to the barrel 12, the fasteners 18 being threadedly engaged in blocks 22 and 24 welded or otherwise secured to the barrel 12. Mounted on the barrel 12 are suitable sight elements 26 and 28 of conventional construction.

The pistol grip has a hollow portion 27 formed therein and has attached thereto a base plate 29 adapted to be secured to the lower portions of the piston grip 20 by means of a clip 30 of any convenient construction. The tool 29 has finger grip portions 32 and 34 as Well as having a tapered aperture 36 for a purpose to be henceforth explained. A trigger guard 38 cs attached to the pistol grip 20 in alignment with the hollow 27.

An opening 40 is formed in the barrel 12 and a trigger 42 which is positioned mainly in the hollow 27 extends through the opening 40 and is pivotally mounted to an extension 44 of a breech plug 46 threadedly engaged as at 48 with an inner threaded portion of the barrel 12. It is to be noted that suitable rotation of the plug 46 within the barrel may be utilized to adjust the position of the plug 46 if considered necessary, it being realized that the plug 46 must be rotated a complete revolution wiht respect to the barrel after the trigger 42 which may be detachably secured by means of a pin 50 to the extension 44 has been detached from the extension.

l The barrel 12 is also externally threaded as at 52 for threaded reception of a perforated end cap 54. A muzzle plug 56 is threadedly engaged in an internally threaded portion 58 of the barrel 12 and is apertured as at 60.

Positioned within the barrel 12 is a receptacle 62 having a flange portion 64 apertured as at 66 for relief of pressure. The receptacle 62 has a recess 68 for reception of the end 70 of a projectile 72 and a spring 74 is suitablyjmounted by means of a fastener 76 within the recess 68 for resiliently holding the end 70 of the projectile 72. The rear portion 78 of the receptacle 62 is grooved as at 80 to form annular shoulders 82 and 84 which are adapted to engage the edge portions of a trigger formed by an opening 86 therein which is beveled as at 88. i

A coil spring 90 concentric with the receptacle 62 is positioned between the breech plug 46 which is apertured as at 92 and the flange 64 of the receptacle 62 and urges the receptacle 62 toward the muzzle plug 56. A locking sear pin or safety pin 94 is provided and may be tapered as at 96 so as to be securely held within aligned apertures 98 and 100 in the barrel 12. This sear pin 94 is so positioned as to hold the spring 90 in a compressed state.

Pivotally attached as at 102 to the piston grip 20 is a line holding spool 104 on which line 106 is designed to be wrapped, the line 106 having an end attached to the projectile 72 which may be provided with a spear or barbed head 108 of any desired or suitable configuration.

The operation of this spear pistol is quite simple. With the spear pistol'in the position as is shown in Figure 4, the tool 29 may be removed by the operator of the spear pistol inserting a finger into the cavity 10 provided in the base of the pistol grip 20. Then, the tool 29 may be positioned so that the point 108 of the projectile 72 extends through the tapered apertures 36 in the tool 29 and utilizing the finger grip portions 32 and 34, the projectile 72 may be pushed inwardly forcing the receptacle 62 inwardly until the end 78 thereof passes through the opening 86 in the trigger 42. Release of the projectile to a slight extent will cause by friction the trigger 42 to pivot upwardly so as to cause the shoulder 82 of thereceptacle 6240 engage--the trigger. This is aided by means of a spring 114 which urges the trigger 42 into the cocked position; After the trigger has been co'clced, the sear pin 94 may be inserted with-'thetapered' portion96'wedgingly holding the sear pinin pla'ce. When it is desired to fire-the 'Weapomit is-merely necessary to remove the sear pin 94 and then press the trigger.

The foregoing is considered'as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to'the exact construction and operation'shownanddescribed, and accordingly 'all suitable} modifications and equivalents maybe resn t'edto; falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What isclaimed as newis as "follows:-

1. A pistol comprising a bariel having an apertured breech plug and an aperturedrn'uz'zle guide plug, a pistol grip secured to said barrel, a receptacle having a rear portion eXtendable through said breech plug, a trigger extending through said barrel and into said pistol grip, said trigger having an opening therethrough, said rear portion of said receptacle extending through'said opening and having a shoulder engageable with said trigger, and a spring biasing said breech plug and said receptacle, said trigger being pivotally attached to said breech plug.

2. A pistol comprising a barrel having an apertured breech plug and an apertured muzzle guide plug, a pistol grip secured to said barrel, a receptablehaving a rear portion ex'tendable through said'breech plug, a trigger extending through said barrel and into said pistol grip, said trigger having an opening therethrough, said rear portion of said receptacle extending through said opening and having a shoulder engageable with said trigger, and a spring biasing said breech plug and saidreceptacle, said receptacle having a perforated peripheral guide flange against which said spring bears.

3. A pistol comprising a barrel having an apertured breech plug and an apertured muzzle guide plug, a pistol grip secured to said barrel, a receptacle having a rear por-' tion extendable through said breech plug, a trigger extending through said barrel and into saidpistol grip, said trigger having an opening therethrough, said rear portion of said receptacle extendingtth'rou'gh said opening and havl L, ing a shoulder engageable with said trigger, and a spring biasing-said breech'plug and said receptacle, said receptacle having a perforated guide flange against which said spring bears, said trigger being pivotally attached to said breech plug, said barrel being perforated.

4. A pistol comprising a barrel having an apertured breech plug and an apertured muzle guide plug, a pistol grip secured to said barrel, areceptacle having a rear 3 portion extendable through said breech plug, a trigger extending through said barrel and into said pistol grip, said trigger having an opening therethrough, said rear portion of said receptacle extending through said opening and having a shoulder engageable with said trigger, and a spring biasing said breech plug and said receptacle, said receptacle having a perforated guide flange against which said spring bears, said trigger being pivotally attached to said breech plug, said barrel being perforated, said breech plug being adjustably positioned in said barrel.

5. A pistol comprising a'barrel having an apertured breech plug and an apertured muzzle guide plug, a pistol grip'seeure'dto' saidbarrel, a receptacle having a rear por' tion extendable throughsaid breech plug, a trigger extending throughsaid barrel and into said pistol grip, said trigger having an opening therethrough, said rear portion of said receptacle'extending through said opening and having ashoul'cler engageable' with said trigger, a spring biasing said breech plug and said receptacle, said receptacle having 'a'perforated guideflange against which said spring bears, said trigger being pivotally attached to said breech plug, said barrel being perforated, said breech plug being adjustably positioned in said barrel, and spring means secured to said pistol grip and said trigger urging said trigger to a"cocked"positi0n;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Mar. 22, 1943 

